Alternatives to Brooks saddle?
#1
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Thread Starter
Alternatives to Brooks saddle?
Looking for suggestions to alternatives (non leather) to the Brooks B17. Yes, I did google it. The recommendations I found on the Web did not seem to match the width/length of the B17. (Looking to match the feel, comfort, support) I am looking for a more light weight, non leather, alternation that will be comfortable for longer distances I am doing. Yeah, I know "everyones' sit bones are different". Just curious what others are using whom formally had Brooks and switched, or whom own a Brooks and another bike/saddle combo which feel similar.
Thanks.
Thanks.
#2
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I have heard of people going to a fizik Aliante. I can't really imagine that with the same nose-up saddle position that works best with a B17 though. So it would be a learning process. Vintage Avocet women's saddles have the same shape as a B17. Don't know if there is a similar saddle available today.
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Look at Terry saddles. I use the Butterfly, and for me at least it is the most comfortable saddle I have for very long distances. Better than a B-17, which I also use. The Butterfly is the women’s model (shaped for our delicate butts) but Terry also makes the Fly for men, as well as the Liberator. Men's Touring Bike Saddles - Endurance Bike Seats | Terry.
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#4
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I've never ridden a leather brooks but I can say that I found the c17 cambium to be uncomfortable. My partner switched from a b17 to some generic looking Bontrager saddle and said she hasn't felt as good on the bike in a long time but hasn't done any long rides with yet, but has been on the trainer all winter which I find to be harder on the bum than riding outdoors. I switched to a specialized toupe and found it more pleasant. I use a 143mm but am going to go with a 155mm if I can find a used to see if it's more comfortable... the ass-o-meter at a local LBS put me in the middle of that range.
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I have heard people say that if you switch from leather to non-leather, you should use a narrower saddle because on the widest part of the leather saddle you have the metal frame, but it is unlikely that you are using that part of the saddle. If you have any friends with narrower non-leather saddles, you might want to try them to see how they fit you.
I can't suggest any saddles, I only use leather saddles.
I can't suggest any saddles, I only use leather saddles.
#6
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FWIW Selle Anatomica is coming out with a rubber hammock saddle, the R2:
Not out yet, no reviews to be found.
Not out yet, no reviews to be found.
#7
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I'm basically an all-leather-saddle kind of rider, and have been for many years... but I have ridden too many wet brevets where I just got tired of the combination of wet clothes and a wet saddle. A wet leather saddle doesn't fit the same as a dry one.
So I started using a Cinelli Unicanitor CMX saddle, which is a hard plastic shell with a steel frame, currently available for around $50. The CMX is a little wider than the traditional Unicanitor saddle. Pretty close to a standard B17. [edit: I read online that the Unicanitor CMX measures 27 x 15 cm, which is shorter and narrower than a B17 Standard.]
The plastic in these seems to vary; some are harder than others. I don't know why that is.
I got a blue one last spring, and my first thought was it was too hard, so I cut an "imperial" style hole in the top:
After that I shaved down the top with woodworking tools, and eventually ended up with this:
I put thousands of miles on that saddle, including a 1200 and a 600 and a lot of shorter rides, and was very happy with the saddle, even when it was wet.
So recently I got another one, which (new) looked like this:
Again I've shaved a lot of plastic off the top, completely removing the Cinelli logo... after a while it looked like this:
I haven't decided whether that one will need an 'imperial' cutout.
I'm pretty happy with these generally. They breathe well enough, with the perforations, and they feel pretty much like a leather saddle. As with a leather saddle, I ride them with no padding in my shorts.
There are a lot of older saddles of this kind, some of which are quite good, others not; they are copies of the original Unicanitor, so narrower than the CMX one. I have one that I think is a Unica-Mex (there's no writing on it) and it is quite comfortable. I had an Arius one as well, but the plastic cracked. This isn't my photo, but you get the idea:
So I started using a Cinelli Unicanitor CMX saddle, which is a hard plastic shell with a steel frame, currently available for around $50. The CMX is a little wider than the traditional Unicanitor saddle. Pretty close to a standard B17. [edit: I read online that the Unicanitor CMX measures 27 x 15 cm, which is shorter and narrower than a B17 Standard.]
The plastic in these seems to vary; some are harder than others. I don't know why that is.
I got a blue one last spring, and my first thought was it was too hard, so I cut an "imperial" style hole in the top:
After that I shaved down the top with woodworking tools, and eventually ended up with this:
I put thousands of miles on that saddle, including a 1200 and a 600 and a lot of shorter rides, and was very happy with the saddle, even when it was wet.
So recently I got another one, which (new) looked like this:
Again I've shaved a lot of plastic off the top, completely removing the Cinelli logo... after a while it looked like this:
I haven't decided whether that one will need an 'imperial' cutout.
I'm pretty happy with these generally. They breathe well enough, with the perforations, and they feel pretty much like a leather saddle. As with a leather saddle, I ride them with no padding in my shorts.
There are a lot of older saddles of this kind, some of which are quite good, others not; they are copies of the original Unicanitor, so narrower than the CMX one. I have one that I think is a Unica-Mex (there's no writing on it) and it is quite comfortable. I had an Arius one as well, but the plastic cracked. This isn't my photo, but you get the idea:
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Last edited by rhm; 02-27-19 at 07:28 AM.
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#8
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Thread Starter
I'm basically an all-leather-saddle kind of rider, and have been for many years... but I have ridden too many wet brevets where I just got tired of the combination of wet clothes and a wet saddle. A wet leather saddle doesn't fit the same as a dry one.
So I started using a Cinelli Unicanitor CMX saddle, which is a hard plastic shell with a steel frame, currently available for around $50. The CMX is a little wider than the traditional Unicanitor saddle. Pretty close to a standard B17.
The plastic in these seems to vary; some are harder than others. I don't know why that is.
I got a blue one last spring, and my first thought was it was too hard, so I cut an "imperial" style hole in the top:
After that I shaved down the top with woodworking tools, and eventually ended up with this:
I put thousands of miles on that saddle, including a 1200 and a 600 and a lot of shorter rides, and was very happy with the saddle, even when it was wet.
So recently I got another one, which (new) looked like this:
Again I've shaved a lot of plastic off the top, completely removing the Cinelli logo... after a while it looked like this:
I haven't decided whether that one will need an 'imperial' cutout.
I'm pretty happy with these generally. They breathe well enough, with the perforations, and they feel pretty much like a leather saddle. As with a leather saddle, I ride them with no padding in my shorts.
There are a lot of older saddles of this kind, some of which are quite good, others not; they are copies of the original Unicanitor, so narrower than the CMX one. I have one that I think is a Unica-Mex (there's no writing on it) and it is quite comfortable. I had an Arius one as well, but the plastic cracked. This isn't my photo, but you get the idea:
So I started using a Cinelli Unicanitor CMX saddle, which is a hard plastic shell with a steel frame, currently available for around $50. The CMX is a little wider than the traditional Unicanitor saddle. Pretty close to a standard B17.
The plastic in these seems to vary; some are harder than others. I don't know why that is.
I got a blue one last spring, and my first thought was it was too hard, so I cut an "imperial" style hole in the top:
After that I shaved down the top with woodworking tools, and eventually ended up with this:
I put thousands of miles on that saddle, including a 1200 and a 600 and a lot of shorter rides, and was very happy with the saddle, even when it was wet.
So recently I got another one, which (new) looked like this:
Again I've shaved a lot of plastic off the top, completely removing the Cinelli logo... after a while it looked like this:
I haven't decided whether that one will need an 'imperial' cutout.
I'm pretty happy with these generally. They breathe well enough, with the perforations, and they feel pretty much like a leather saddle. As with a leather saddle, I ride them with no padding in my shorts.
There are a lot of older saddles of this kind, some of which are quite good, others not; they are copies of the original Unicanitor, so narrower than the CMX one. I have one that I think is a Unica-Mex (there's no writing on it) and it is quite comfortable. I had an Arius one as well, but the plastic cracked. This isn't my photo, but you get the idea:
#9
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Totally third hand, but I did see a video which mentioned Charge Spoon, Charge Ladle, Specialized Toupe, and Fizik Aliante VS by the pathlesspedaled guy.
#10
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Thread Starter
Thanks. I saw this video. But, I investigated each of the saddle/seats; got the specs on them. They don't seem to match up vis a vis the width. But, than again, the Brook B17 is approx 170mm wide and there is likely very few options that are similar in that regard.
#11
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The Charge Spoon is an option. But, I just wonder what do you get for $28, the retail on the Spoon. What sort of quality can you get at that price?
#12
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SQLabs have some options that come close. (611 and 612). They offer a variety of widths, and give instructions on how to measure the distance between your ischial protuberances.
#13
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I rode a Brooks Colt and was happy with it. Then I bought a new bike that came with a Fabric Scoop Shallow saddle. I decided to keep it for the time being, waiting to see if it would be as comfortable as the Colt. Until now I've ridden more than 2000 km on it, with a longest ride of 210 km, and I cannot say that I experience much of a difference between the Scoop and the Colt. It works certainly better on wet rides though.
#15
Senior Member
Brooks C17. Brooks fit, Brooks comfort, non-leather. And so far, mine (I have 3) seem to be lasting better than B17's as well.
SP "Brooks butt"
OC, OR
SP "Brooks butt"
OC, OR
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VeloFello, welcome to the forum
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Much prefer the Brooks B17 by the by. But that simply isn't the right saddle for all bikes, especially not the ones driven all year round in all kinds of weather.
#19
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The more I look into saddle/seat options....the more confusing it gets. I didnt realize there can be options within one model. And, of course, makers have muliple options; so its options within options.
SqLabs must have 20 or 30 models; WTB another 20, etc. Fizik, etc.
Maybe I need to travel a bit and find a larger shop that carries a broad selection and try stuff out.
SqLabs must have 20 or 30 models; WTB another 20, etc. Fizik, etc.
Maybe I need to travel a bit and find a larger shop that carries a broad selection and try stuff out.
#20
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The more I look into saddle/seat options....the more confusing it gets. I didnt realize there can be options within one model. And, of course, makers have muliple options; so its options within options.
SqLabs must have 20 or 30 models; WTB another 20, etc. Fizik, etc.
Maybe I need to travel a bit and find a larger shop that carries a broad selection and try stuff out.
SqLabs must have 20 or 30 models; WTB another 20, etc. Fizik, etc.
Maybe I need to travel a bit and find a larger shop that carries a broad selection and try stuff out.
I can't tell you how many times I've read, on this forum, comparisons between the "B17" and other saddles, without ever specifying what a "B17" is. Well, the comparison may be valid, or not; but at many times there have been more than one versions of the B17, and of course they have been making them for over a century, and a lot of the ones in use today are several decades old. It's not always obvious how old a saddle is.
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#21
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Yup.
I can't tell you how many times I've read, on this forum, comparisons between the "B17" and other saddles, without ever specifying what a "B17" is. Well, the comparison may be valid, or not; but at many times there have been more than one versions of the B17, and of course they have been making them for over a century, and a lot of the ones in use today are several decades old. It's not always obvious how old a saddle is.
I can't tell you how many times I've read, on this forum, comparisons between the "B17" and other saddles, without ever specifying what a "B17" is. Well, the comparison may be valid, or not; but at many times there have been more than one versions of the B17, and of course they have been making them for over a century, and a lot of the ones in use today are several decades old. It's not always obvious how old a saddle is.
#22
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Yes, have a Champion Standard that I bought new in 2007, it didn't hold up well for me so I put it on my wife's bike and she's happy with it. I rode an early 70's Champion Narrow for several years, but it eventually failed. I find the standard to be too wide, but I like the narrow. Which model do you have?
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Last edited by rhm; 02-27-19 at 01:50 PM.
#23
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Within Brooks lineup of leather saddles there are others to choose from too. B17 is popular for a lot of people, especially for bike touring. I bought one many years ago and it worked well for me when I was sitting more upright, but it felt too wide when I used the drops on drop handlebars. Also, decades ago I had used a Brooks Pro on a different bike, that saddle is narrower and that felt good when I use the drops.
Now, years and bikes later, I have a few bikes with the Brooks Conquest which is very similar to a Brooks Pro in shape, but has springs. And I have a couple of Brooks Pro saddles on other bikes.
To me almost any saddle will feel good at first, but after 50 miles you can tell if it is a good saddle for you and your bike or not.
Now, years and bikes later, I have a few bikes with the Brooks Conquest which is very similar to a Brooks Pro in shape, but has springs. And I have a couple of Brooks Pro saddles on other bikes.
To me almost any saddle will feel good at first, but after 50 miles you can tell if it is a good saddle for you and your bike or not.
#24
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Yes, have a Champion Standard that I bought new in 2007, it didn't hold up well for me so I put it on my wife's bike and she's happy with it. I rode an early 70's Champion Narrow for several years, but it eventually failed. I find the standard to be too wide, but I like the narrow. Which model do you have?
Standard